·         Burning material:  We suggest hard wood be used in your stove.  Dry hard wood burns more efficiently than soft wood and leaves less creosote build-up.

·         Cure stove before first use:   To cure the paint on your stove/grill simply place it on a stable surface out doors and burn for 1-2 hours straight.  The curing process is to be done before initial use of the stove/grill and you will notice an unusual burning odor as the paint cures. 

·         Do not place anything within two feet of the stove:  Always place stove/grill on a flat, level non- flammable surface.  Because burning material can fall from the door when it’s opened, the area of ground directly beneath and in front of the door should be solid and non-flammable.  Some people use an old cookie sheet beneath the stove.   This protects the floor covering and reflects heat.   Also, due to excessive heat nothing should be placed within two feet diameter of each stove/grill unit. 

·         Spark arrestor:  The built in spark arrestor reduces the number of sparks that enter the stove pipe.  Before each use, check the spark arrestor to be sure that it is free of creosote build-up.  Excessive build up can block smoke from entering the pipe.  The stove pipe should never be red!  A red stove pipe indicates that the stove is too hot and such heat can cause permanent damage to the metal of the stove!  To reduce the stove temperature, simply reduce airflow with your built in air intake.

·         Clear ash from stove/grill:  Always clean ash out of stove/grill and make sure that all parts are working correctly and free of any combustible debris.  Any ash or moist material can cause rust to the stove/grill and should be removed before the stove/grill is placed in storage.

·         Creosote build-up:  The less air intake you use (by closing the damper), the more creosote build-up will have inside the pipe and on the spark arrestor.  After each use, make sure the stove pipe and spark arrestor are free of creosote by gently tapping them against each other.  Too much creosote left inside the stove pipe can possibly cause a fire inside the stove pipe.

·         Wind and the camp stove:  Use sheet metal screws to secure the stove pipe sections to each other (at their joints) and do the same thing to the seam where the pipe meets the stove.  If not reinforced with sheet metal screws, wind can loosen the pipe.  This can even happen if the stove is inside a tent so you also need to make sure your tent is anchored properly. 

·         Your stove and tents:            -Never place the stove directly on the floor of your tent!                                                                                                           -The spark arrestor prevents most sparks from reaching the tent roof, but it is best to use a fly on your shelter       Sparks can burn holes in even fire treated material, so care must be taken when you use your stove in the tent.                                                        
                                                        -Keep in mind that your stove will need 2 feet of space directly around it that doesn’t contain anything flammable.  This is very important to consider when you are in a tent!     
                                                        -Your stove pipe will function best when it extends at least 6” past the ridge line.